India were hitting at almost 15.5 an over when having already scored 93, they lost their first wicket in the form of Abhishek Sharma. That was kind of sad given the usually rampant Sharma, scorer of the fastest
ever T20I century, could have gone a longer way.
That being said, one man was at the crease and was going strong. He would, as we eventually saw, strike 67 runs off 33 odd deliveries that featured 4 priceless sixes and as many as 8 fours.
That was Sanju Samson.
In an age where batters are constantly trying to break into a side and forge a stronghold, for to build a long future you need just that, Sanju Samson has already become ubiquitous in the T20I format. It’s the very format without which one simply can’t imagine the game in its current conception.
2️⃣3️⃣-ball FIFTY for @IamSanjuSamson 💫
His 1️⃣1️⃣th in T20Is 👏
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/ADfFnxXGzz
#TeamIndia | #NZvIND https://t.co/ucj9pxfYms
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 22, 2026
Remember, he was the very man who gave us flying starts in the recent white ball game against the West Indies where out of the last 4 contests he played in India before arriving in New Zealand, Samson blasted 2 pivotal fifties in four innings. With knocks such as the 56 at Hyderabad and the belter of an 82 at Ranchi, Samson delighted fans and inspired hope.
Although, Shai had different plans at Jharkhand, Sanju was still in a league of his own. Just as he was in the 2026 T20 World Cup virtual quarter final clash at Kolkata, where let’s face it, had it not been for his brilliant 97, India may never had even won that game. The West Indies, even then led by Shai Hope (who along with Roston Chase built a handy stand against a Bumrah led attack), had scored 195!
Sanju, who back in the game had arrived in the way of an earnest learner in the game, has cemented his position as a constant confidence booster to an Indian side that has several exciting names, such as Abhishek, Sooryavanshi, Ishan and the captain of the T20I format- the gritty and classy Shreyas Iyer.
